Research Paper

Criteria

Levels of Achievement

Content

(70%)

Advanced

92-100%

Proficient

84-91%

Developing

1-83%

Not Present

Total

Defining the Problem

14 to 15 points:

Overview of Root Causes; Competing Interpretations (i.e. how conservatives define the problem vs. how liberals define the problem).

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

12.5 to 13.5 points:

Overview generally provides the following: Root Causes; Competing Interpretations (i.e. how conservatives define the problem vs. how liberals define the problem).

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 12 points:

Overview fails to include all of the following: Root Causes; Competing Interpretations (i.e. how conservatives define the problem vs. how liberals define the problem).

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

Introduce Policy Alternatives

9 to 10 points:

Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation which serve as solutions to the problem.

Thoroughly explains how each bill attempts to solve root causes of the problem.

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

8 to 8.5 points:

Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation which serve as solutions to the problem.

Generally explains how each bill attempts to solve root causes of the problem.

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 7.5 points:

Reference and briefly discuss 2 and only 2 pieces of legislation which serve as solutions to the problem.

Often fails to explain how each bill attempts to solve root causes of the problem.

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

May:

Biblical

14 to 15 points:

Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill includes discussion of how inalienable rights, natural law, institutional separation of Church and State, Sin/Crime distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if government is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

12.5 to 13.5 points:

Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill generally includes discussion of how inalienable rights, natural law, institutional separation of Church and State, Sin/Crime distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if government is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 12 points:

Biblical guidelines for government involvement for each bill often fails to include a discussion of how inalienable rights, natural law, institutional separation of Church and State, Sin/Crime distinction and sphere sovereignty help determine if government is the appropriate sphere to address the issue.

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

May:

Constitutional

14 to 15 points:

Constitutional guidelines for government involvement as it relates to each bill.

Includes references to specific enumerated powers and relevant Supreme Court cases as needed.

Avoids vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

12.5 to 13.5 points:

Constitutional guidelines for government involvement as it relates to each bill is provided for the most part.

Generally includes references to specific enumerated powers and relevant Supreme Court cases as needed.

Avoids vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 12 points:

Minimal discussion of Constitutional guidelines for government involvement as it relates to each bill.

Fails to include references to specific enumerated powers and relevant Supreme Court cases as needed and/or engages in vague use of the "General Welfare" clause.

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

Can:

Political

9 to 10 points:

Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and 2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for and/or against piece of legislation.

Thorough discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass the House and Senate, and be signed by the President.

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

8 to 8.5 points:

Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and 2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for and/or against piece of legislation.

Discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass the House and Senate, and be signed by the President.

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 7.5 points:

Political Feasibility: 1) Use of relevant surveys, polls, etc.; and 2) Articulation of key political leaders, parties, etc. who are for and/or against piece of legislation.

Minimal discussion of whether or not the bill is likely to pass the House and Senate, and be signed by the President.

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

Can:

Financial

9 to 10 points:

Financial Feasibility-includes for each piece of legislation a thorough discussion of the following: 1) Cost of one piece of legislation vs. another

2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation

3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

8 to 8.5 points:

Financial Feasibility-generally includes for each piece of legislation: 1) Cost of one piece of legislation vs. another

2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation

3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 7.5 points:

Financial Feasibility minimal discussion of the following: 1) Cost of one piece of legislation vs. another

2) Cost of action vs. no action for each piece of legislation

3) Cost benefit analysis for each piece of legislation

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

Can:

Practical

9 to 10 points:

Practical Feasibility-includes for piece of legislation a thorough discussion of the following:

Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.

Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement the bill

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

8 to 8.5 points:

Practical Feasibility-includes for piece of legislation an adequate discussion of the following:

Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.

Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement the bill

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 7.5 points:

Practical Feasibility-often fails to include for piece of legislation:

Discussion of physical resources, manpower, etc. needed to implement policy as well as practical challenges associated with implementing the bill, to include timing and logistics.

Discussion of necessary, practical steps needed to implement the bill

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

Should

18.5 to 20 points:

Persuasive summary of the key issues supporting your decision to either support, amend, and/or reject the legislation. Must be based upon the May and Can portions of your analysis.

Makes the case in light of what is going on politically and whether other political actors should support the legislation in light of competing political agendas.

Work demonstrates a detailed understanding of ideas from required sources.

17 to 18 points:

Generally persuasive summary of the key issues supporting your decision to either support, amend, and/or reject the legislation. Must be based upon the May and Can portions of your analysis.

Generally makes the case in light of what is going on politically and whether other political actors should support the legislation in light of competing political agendas.

Work demonstrates a general understanding of ideas from required sources.

1 to 16.5 points:

Minimally persuasive summary of the key issues supporting your decision to either support, amend, and/or reject the legislation. Often not based upon the May and Can portions of your analysis.

Fails to make the case in light of what is going on politically and whether other political actors should support the legislation in light of competing political agendas.

Work demonstrates an inadequate understanding of ideas from required sources.

0 points

Not present

Structure (30%)

Advanced

92-100%

Proficient

84-91%

Developing

1-83%

Not Present

Total

Sources

11 to 12 points:

All required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must include the "Biblical Principles of Government" article), Scripture, and the required readings and presentations from the assigned module/week are cited.

Used 15-20 empirical sources

10 to 10.5 points:

Most of the required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must include the "Biblical Principles of Government" article), Scripture, and the required readings and presentations from the assigned module/week are cited.

Used 10-14 empirical sources

1 to 9.5 points:

Few of the required sources from Modules/Weeks 1–2 (must include the "Biblical Principles of Government" article), Scripture, and the required readings and presentations from the assigned module/week are cited.

Used 9 or less empirical sources

0 points

Not present

APA format (citations and references)

11 to 12 points:

Sources are cited and listed in current APA format.

10 to 10.5 points:

Sources are generally cited and listed in current APA format.

1 to 9.5 points:

Numerous deficiencies with respect to proper APA, grammar, and spelling.

0 points

Not present

Page Length

10 to 11 points:

Length no less than 6 pages; not including title and reference pages.

9 to 9.5 points:

Length less than 6 pages but more than 5; not including title and reference pages

1 to 8.5 points:

Length less than 5 pages

0 points

Not present

Grammar and spelling

9.5 to 10 points:

Proper grammar, and spelling are used throughout.

8.5 to 9 points:

For the most part proper grammar and spelling are used throughout improper abbreviations.

1 to 8 points:

Numerous deficiencies with respect to proper grammar, and spelling.

0 points

Not present

Professor Comments:

Total:

/150